Barbados rose up over the horizon and into view at 1:25PM. I’ll be using local time from now on, which is GMT -4 just in case you care. It’s significant to us because it’s been like a countdown clock as we get closer and closer to home. Just a year ago today we were GMT+7, so a time zone per month average, not bad!
We were 17 miles east of the island at the time. Based on the first 20 days, it didn’t look like we had a hope of arriving before Monday but Neptune really took our “Longest Passage Ever” post to heart and we logged our two best days back to back. By the time we sighted Barbados it was looking like we would not only make it on Sunday, day 24, but we would make it just before sunset. It was the fastest, roughest day of the passage for sure. We had 30 knots behind us most of the day and night, and the swell had built up considerably. The average was probably 4 meters, but we would get a 6 or 7 chucked at us from time to time just to keep things exciting. Nothing like surfing down the face of a twenty footer at 12 knots to dispense with the need for caffeine. Apparently it had the opposite effect on Jaime, who decided that these were the perfect conditions for a nap.
Believe it or not we logged 158 miles yesterday using main only, no headsail. I was nervous about the southern point in these conditions but fortunately that turned out to be unwarranted. The wind held and as we adjusted our heading to wrap around the southern coast and started to creep up the beam. Soon it was at 120 degrees, the magic number which allows us to put the headsail in play. The swell got smaller and smaller as we moved further behind the protection of the island. By 4:00PM we had “sailors dream” conditions; 20 knots of wind just aft of the beam with no swell. We were light in the water since we had already burned up 23 days worth of victuals, water, diesel and the like. All this is to say that we hauled prodigious ass around the south western coastline. Jaime and I were both outside with stupid grins enjoying the best two hours of sailing we’ve had since encountering similar conditions leaving Tonga a few years ago. Slappy brought us screaming home in style and
with this last spurt actually beat the sunset. We came skidding around the corner, doused and packed the sails, tidied things up a little and made for shore.
At exactly 6:00PM we approached the “Careenage” on the northern end of Carlisle Bay and heard shouts from shore. “Ahoy Slapdash!” were the Canadian accented words being carried over the water. There on shore shouting and waving were Jaime’s Dad Ken and his wife Pam. They were waving us down into the harbour now and shouting “berth four on your left”. So we trundled further into the narrow little harbour and watched Pam and Ken run along the sea wall. True to their word, half way up and on the left we found a vacant spot on the seawall underneath of a little number 4 and at the feet of two people that had travelled all the way here from Squamish B.C. to catch our lines, save me from spending my first night here in the clinker, and bring us burgers. Yep, burgers.
A few minutes later we had our lines squared away, were clinking plastic champagne glasses, and scarfing down the best tasting burgers imaginable. Jaime and I were a bit shell shocked to say the least. The roars and whoosh of traffic replaced the roar and whoosh of wind and wave. We weren’t moving. Barbadians walked along the seawall and said things like “welcome to Barbados”. Pam and Ken were sitting in our freaking settee!
After 24 days of nothing but this boat, each other, water, wind and wave this was all alot to take in. Happily the burgers and spicy potato wedges were a lot to take in too, so I did the honourable thing and finished Jaime and Pam’s wedges.
Tale of the tape:
- We sailed 2800 nautical miles in 24 days from Las Palmas to Barbados (average 116.6 miles/day)
- We used 40 gallons of diesel (average 70 miles to the gallon)
- 60 gallons of fresh water (1.25 gallons per person per day)
- 20 pounds of LPG
- We played a role in the assisted suicide of 28 flying fish and 1 squid
- Made and consumed 36 servings of soup
- Flicked 200 trivia cards overboard
- Jaime puked once
- Listened to 3 audio books (Treasure Island, World War Z, Robopocalypse)
- 192 watch cycles (96 each)
- Sighted 4 vessels; three commercial one sail (average 1 sighting each 48 watch cycles )
So there you have it. Today I’m off to face the music. Pam and Ken are here right now, they’ve suspiciously offered to babysit Slapdash. I’m beginning to suspect a set-up. Pam is the only person that’s had personal contact with the officials, assuring me that I won’t be arrested when I turn up with an expired passport. Now they’re here offering to take care of the boat?
Things that make you go hmmm…
That’s a lot of free dinner offers you have received. Makes us want to follow in your footsteps, just for the potential savings!
I imagine you fee a sense of accomplishment but, also, what, in need of a new challenge? We look forward to catching up.
We’re about 30 miles from where we last met, less as the crow flies, but will soon be picking up speed.
We can’t wait to see you at some point.
Paul, Sima, & Captain Alexander.
Posted by Paul, Sima, and Alexander | 13. Feb, 2012, 11:11 pmCongratulations on a great achievement! Have a great party…rest a bit…then do it again…you have not missed a thing on land.
Posted by Emile & Isabelle du Toit | 07. Feb, 2012, 11:49 pmWell done guys, just sat down with a coffee and read all the crossing posts!!
You inspire me to want more, read every word so far and looking forward to more!!
Laters
Rob
Posted by Rob Pennington | 03. Feb, 2012, 9:36 amJaime & Seth, from that day in January 2008 in Bimini till now you guys have accomplished what few have. You are both awesome! Congratulations!
Posted by Tom Howell | 02. Feb, 2012, 1:33 pmCongratulations Guys !!
I’m sure there is more coming – but so far this has been a tale for the ages. Very proud of a certain cousin of mine.
When you roll thru T-Dot eventually ( and you will ) I expect the privilege of buying you two dinner.
Posted by Joel Bennett | 28. Jan, 2012, 1:37 pmI found your site about a month ago and read it start to finish… and now your done, sigh for me and congrats to you both. What an amazing journey, thanks for the ride.
Posted by Stephan Poole | 27. Jan, 2012, 5:42 am5 years to do something teenage chicks do in a couple of months? Whatever. Chill the beer, a McBoob weather front is moving in…
Posted by Di-jeff-nk | 27. Jan, 2012, 2:45 amCongrats you guys! I always knew you and the Slapdash could do it! We are now 155 days away from doing the same thing and we are headed cross the US then find our own slappy.
Great job and what an adventure!
Posted by John Young | 27. Jan, 2012, 2:09 amCongratulations!!! As the ex-owner of Gemini 105 Mc # 827, I heartily cheer your Canadian grit, etc., in making it from South Carolina around the planet to Barbados. Well done! Now I have to convince my Calgary buddy of 30 years that your achievement does not make you Canucks better sailors than we Yanks – a hard thing to do in view of your record – especially with bad butt cracks while attempting to gain a zen connetion with the Westerbeke 30B when it does a pffft when you need it. Been there done that. Tony Smith is proud of you guys. By the way, you are in one of the best islands in the Caribbean. They’re Bajans, not Barbadians, and they’re wonderful folks – I’ve worked with them in many airline deals, and they’ve always been great. That’s because all the Anglo Bajans went to South Carolina in the late 1600′s and became cretins. While you are there, do visit the Mount Gay Distillery in Bridge Town, and sample the Mount Gay Extra Old rum – truly an transcendental quaff, the only sipping rum in the f-ing world! It’s the only rum that was allowed abosrd my beloved Gemini. All the BS aside, I’ve been following you two around the world, and yhou’ve proved something good – wish I wasn’t too old to do the same. Much respect and a lot of love – thanks! Jerry Smith
Posted by Jerry Smith | 25. Jan, 2012, 2:39 pmCongratulations to both of you on your amazing journey … and thank you for letting me share it.
Posted by Lynne Taylor | 25. Jan, 2012, 1:47 pmWell done. Now enjoy the Caribbean, you deserve it. Also, see if these guys will make you an offer: http://2gringos.blogspot.com/
Write the book. I’ll buy it. And if you’re around Baltimore, MD, let me know and I’ll stand you to dinner.
Posted by Bob | 25. Jan, 2012, 1:29 pmcongratulations!! we are fellow gemini owners and have been following your voyage from the start.
Ken & susan
Dos Momentos, 105mc 765
Posted by ken | 25. Jan, 2012, 12:21 pm“Home is the sailor, home from the sea,
And the hunter home from the hill.”
Requiem – Robert Louis Stevenson
Posted by Rodger Morris | 25. Jan, 2012, 1:30 amwoo hoo!! Order the Banks!! glad you’re back on the right (left?) side of the Atlantic!
Posted by brenda m | 24. Jan, 2012, 10:10 amCongradulations on one hell of an accomplishment! You guys rule.
Posted by Ted and Rhonda Metsker | 24. Jan, 2012, 6:56 amLet me buy you a beer!!!!
Posted by Ken Page | 24. Jan, 2012, 6:41 amGlad you guys made it! The sat phone updates rock! Relax and enjoy
Posted by Richard Hess | 24. Jan, 2012, 2:22 am